Urodzony w 1973 roku fiński pianista i kompozytor Kari Ikonen, należy do grona najbardziej aktywnych i wszechstronnych europejskich muzyków jazzowych. Artysta mający za sobą staranne wykształcenie muzyczne jest też wykładowcą w Akademii Muzycznej im. J.Sibeliusa w Helsinkach oraz w Estońskiej Akademii Muzycznej w Tallinie.
Ikonen oprócz własnych projektów znany jest też z działalności w takich formacjach jak: Ahava, gnomus, Kolhoz, czy Markus Holkko Quartet.
W roku 2020 ukazały się trzy albumy nagrane z udziałem pianisty: firmowany szyldem: Orchestra Nazionale Della Luna, pod którym wraz z nim kryją się: saksofonista oraz flecista Manuel Hermia, perkusista Teun Verbruggen i kontrabasista Sebastien Boisseau "There's Still Life On Earth", solowa płyta "Impressions, Improvisations and Compositions", oraz album nagrany w składzie formacji Quartet Ajaton: "Early Music in the Latest Way".
Oryginalne instrumentarium Quartet Ajaton składa się z bandoneonu (Henrik Sandås), syntezatora Moog (Ikonen) oraz violi da gamba (Mikko Perkola), a wokalistka Mia Simanaiden zapewnia grupie zmysłowy syreni śpiew, za pośrednictwem którego docierają do nas wiersze m.in. Janet Frame, Nahuma Tate i Edmunda Wallera.
Na płycie znajdziemy m.in. kompozycje takich twórców jak John Dowland i Henry Purcell, podane w fascynującej stylistycznie i brzmieniowo konwencji.
Album ukazał się 28 października 2020. Światowa premiera 12 lutego 2021.
Robert Ratajczak
LINK: recenzja płyty
Quartet Ajaton: Early Music in the Latest Way
CD 2019, Alba ABCD 458
program:
1. Mignonne, Allons Voir Si La Rose
2. Come Again
3. Improvisation On "Les Voix Humaines"
4. When I Am Laid In Earth
5. Awake, Sweet Love
6. In Darkness Let Me Dwell
7. The Self Banished
8. Now, O Now, I Needs Must Past
9. Waka Wanha Wäinämöinen
personel:
Mia Simanainen - głos
Henrik Sandås - bandoneon
Kari Ikonen - Moog synthesizer
Mikko Perkola - viola da gamba
oraz:
Abdissa Assefa - instr.perkusyjne [2]
CD 2019, Alba ABCD 458
program:
1. Mignonne, Allons Voir Si La Rose
2. Come Again
3. Improvisation On "Les Voix Humaines"
4. When I Am Laid In Earth
5. Awake, Sweet Love
6. In Darkness Let Me Dwell
7. The Self Banished
8. Now, O Now, I Needs Must Past
9. Waka Wanha Wäinämöinen
personel:
Mia Simanainen - głos
Henrik Sandås - bandoneon
Kari Ikonen - Moog synthesizer
Mikko Perkola - viola da gamba
oraz:
Abdissa Assefa - instr.perkusyjne [2]
____________________________________________
materiały prasowe:
"What a striking combination of instruments! Artists whose backgrounds extend from baroque, jazz and folk music to more experimental and improvised music, are tempting listeners for an exciting musical journey. Quartet Ajaton combines musical elements in an unconventional way and burns previous definitions into ashes".
The versatile singer Mia Simanainen (b. 1970) knows how to handle the voice as an instrument. She is dedicated to experimenting with musical ideas not existing yet. Simanainen has produced or co-produced seven albums consisting her compositions and innovative artistic vision. She has performed worldwide with her own ensembles, but also as guest artist or sideman in various combined arts / cross over projects, e.g. Karl Jenkins’ Adiemus.
Mikko Perkola (b. 1978) is internationally known for his work with a ’Gramophone Award’ winning Phantasm (The Best Early Music Recording 2016). He has got glowing critics for his recordings on Naxos as well (e.g. Bach Sonatas and Couperin Gamba Series). Today Perkola develops new concepts of playing and therefore experiments increasingly with other musical genres and combined arts projects. He is the artistic director of international festival Hiljaisuus up north in Finland.
Pianist, moog-wizard and composer Kari Ikonen (b. 1973) is the 2013 Yrjö Award recipient as ’The Finnish Jazz Musician of the Year’. He is currently performing worldwide with his own trio (albums on the German label Ozella) and Orchestra Nazionale della Luna. He has worked with the likes of Lee Konitz, Bob Moses, Tony Malaby, Louis Sclavis, Ingrid Jensen and Vincent Courtois. His playing and/or compositions have been recorded for more than 50 albums, 7 of these on his own name. His compositions have been honoured internationally, taking first prizes in the American “Julius Hemphill Composition Awards” and in the Italian “Scrivere in Jazz”.
The ’tango nuevo’ -virtuoso Henrik Sandås (b. 1981) has recently arranged music, performed with and also conducted the symphony orchestras (such as The Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera, the Orchestra of the Aachen Opera, Solti Chamber Orchestra and Tapiola Sinfonietta). He occasionally premieres contemporary classical music, of composers like Timothy Page and Kirmo Lintinen. Sandås is regularily invited to perform as soloist or together with different ensembles at music festivals worldwide, including e.g. Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, Buenos Aires Tango Festival and Flow Festival.
Mikko Perkola (b. 1978) is internationally known for his work with a ’Gramophone Award’ winning Phantasm (The Best Early Music Recording 2016). He has got glowing critics for his recordings on Naxos as well (e.g. Bach Sonatas and Couperin Gamba Series). Today Perkola develops new concepts of playing and therefore experiments increasingly with other musical genres and combined arts projects. He is the artistic director of international festival Hiljaisuus up north in Finland.
Pianist, moog-wizard and composer Kari Ikonen (b. 1973) is the 2013 Yrjö Award recipient as ’The Finnish Jazz Musician of the Year’. He is currently performing worldwide with his own trio (albums on the German label Ozella) and Orchestra Nazionale della Luna. He has worked with the likes of Lee Konitz, Bob Moses, Tony Malaby, Louis Sclavis, Ingrid Jensen and Vincent Courtois. His playing and/or compositions have been recorded for more than 50 albums, 7 of these on his own name. His compositions have been honoured internationally, taking first prizes in the American “Julius Hemphill Composition Awards” and in the Italian “Scrivere in Jazz”.
The ’tango nuevo’ -virtuoso Henrik Sandås (b. 1981) has recently arranged music, performed with and also conducted the symphony orchestras (such as The Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera, the Orchestra of the Aachen Opera, Solti Chamber Orchestra and Tapiola Sinfonietta). He occasionally premieres contemporary classical music, of composers like Timothy Page and Kirmo Lintinen. Sandås is regularily invited to perform as soloist or together with different ensembles at music festivals worldwide, including e.g. Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, Buenos Aires Tango Festival and Flow Festival.
